Backbone News

A bunch of stuff going on…

SmartWool, New Belgium and Aspen Skiing Company win Best Places to Work in Outside Magazine, for 3rd and 2nd times, respectively.

Skiing is wrapping up. Spring is here with good road riding in the RF valley in between snow storms and powder tours.

Backbone recently was named one of Colorado Companies to Watch by Colorado BIZ magazine. Backbone was one of 50 companies named out of a field of over 420. Additionally, Nate Simmons was voted one of Sporting Goods Business  40 under 40 – one of the most influential young industry professionals for his role as Global Director of Marketing for Polartec and partner here at Backbone.

On the fun side, Nate and Greg were up with Chugach Powder Guides with crew from New Belgium, Powder (thanks Kback!) and various film crews like MSP. Check out Adrian’s warm up video  below.

KBack, G-Dub and Nate

Backbone has always loved to bike. Now we are spinning with new clients Serotta Sports, Honey Stinger, Velogear and Jett MTB. Along with this, Backbone is proud to announce Mike McCormack joining our team. Many may know Mike from his Trek, Yeti or Breck Epic days. Mike is a cycling geek and has a 120 lb. dog named Boo – which easily outweighs both of his boys JJ and Tavish. Mike’s wife Emily is a PR powerhouse in her own right and runs Hula Communications.

To see all the official news you can go to our pitchengine newsroom or check it out on our site. Lastly, our good man Ian Anderson and his wife Sari recently added a new son Axel to their family. I realize we don’t “do” baby announcement blogs here so I’ll include that Ian  was recently  promoted to Director of PR here at Backbone doubling up his responsibilities.

Excuse my French but Axel will be a next generation bad ass

Stream of social/PR/media consciousness

Backbone 2010 goes something like this so far:

Ski Day, conference calls, NYC, FAM trip, FB and mobile apps, Vail, Crested Butte, ice climbing, Steamboat, avy class, Beaver Creek, Fort Collins, 1% iTunes, Shot Show, Monarch Cat Skiing, truck crash (walk away), OR, Dawn Patrol, dog commute, SIA, Bluebird, On-Snow, Rando Race, ISPO, hut trip, Olympics, Clients in Town, 30″ new, pow ski, PowderWeek, ski tests, Birkebeiner, Telemakuri, Scufoneda, Aspen entertain, Big Lepowski.

if you have extra time to burn try reading above to this tune…REM End of the World As We Know It.

And we feel fine

Vail? Pfft. The Travelocity Roaming Gnome knows what’s up.

This past Saturday evening, while “Digital” Dave Amirault and I were sipping cocktails and putting out the vibe at the Sky, we had the pleasure of running into the coolest corporate identity around… the Travelocity Roaming Gnome! It was good to see the legendary dwarfish creature in Aspen after weeks of convincing him not to go to Vail.

Travelocity Roaming Gnome

Strong Collaborative Statement on Climate Change from CEOs at Aspen Ski Co and TNF

Aspen Skiing Company CEO Mike Kaplan

Aspen Skiing Company CEO Mike Kaplan

High Country News just published this powerful op-ed collaboration by Aspen Ski Co CEO Mike Kaplan and The North Face CEO Steve Rendle. Definitely worth a read:
Climate change threatens our livelihoods — and yours
In the summer of 2003, one of the most legendary and fearsome mountaineering routes in the world –– the North Face of the Eiger –– fell victim to climate change. An unusually warm summer melted much of the ice that makes this route in Switzerland passable. As temperatures continue to warm, this iconic passage may only exist in winter.

Meanwhile, in Colorado, aspen trees have begun dying off in huge numbers. Aspens can fall victim to many diseases, but science suggests that a warmer climate will lead to increasing tree mortality as a result of sickness, insect infestations and other pests.

Steve Rendle

The North Face CEO Steve Rendle

As CEOs of two of the most widely known consumer brands in the outdoor recreation market — Aspen Skiing Company and The North Face — it gets our attention when our companies’ namesakes start to vanish before our eyes. Although we operate different businesses, we share concern about the impact of climate change on our companies, the economy, the environment and our customers. We also agree that now is the time for dramatic action by Congress to curb greenhouse gas emissions, stimulate investment in renewable energy sources and clean technology, and encourage energy efficiency.

The effects of warming global temperatures are not theoretical. At Aspen, where our business depends on the climate, we already see a gradual increase in frost-free days and warmer nights. Milder winters mean a shorter ski season and greater reliance on artificial snowmaking, a costly and carbon-intensive practice. In short, climate change impacts Aspen’s bottom line. For the $6 billion ski industry, and the hundreds of thousands of people who make their living directly or indirectly from it, the stakes are huge.

Continue reading here.

Freeskier Takes the Backbone Kickball Classic Championship UPDATE: Now with Video!

Let’s get two things straight.

Sarah talking pre-finals smack

Sarah talking pre-finals smack

The J Team - J-LD, J-Lantz & J-Smith

The J Team - J-LD, J-Lantz & J-Smith

One, the 3rd annual Backbone Fall Kickball Classic is a low key affair. Yes, we have pizza, Red Vines, beer and of course a 3-foot tall Champions of the Kickball World green trophy. And not just any beer either, this year we were blessed with a special barrel of New Belgium Lips of Faith – Le Fleur Misseur. But the scene is a low key affair, with writers, friends and their kids drifting in and out of the fray.

Backpacker's Dennis Lewon & his pitching coach

Backpacker's Dennis Lewon & his pitching coach

 Jonathan G and Mike May showing off their facial hair...

Jonathan G and Mike May showing off their facial hair...

The more important point is the second – with a trophy on the line – the bragging rights are serious. So don’t let the low key pretense fool you. People are out for blood.

These guys should be behind bars - CJ, Jason and Metzler

These guys should be behind bars - CJ, Jason and Metzler

This year, Freeskier Mag came up big, routing Skiing Mag in the first round then easily dispensing with the hosts – Backbone in the finals. Clad in fake mustaches, Backbone reached the finals by taking out the Freelancer/Freeloader/Backpacker team in round 1.

Skiing's Jake Bogoch hands over the hardware to the victors at Freeskier!

Skiing's Jake Bogoch hands over the hardware to the victors at Freeskier!

Overall, fun was had. Thanks to 50+ who atteneded. Congrats to team Freeskier and lookout for next year!!!!

Let’s Raise our Voice!

This week I saw a provocative film chronicling the the disturbing proliferation of natural gas drilling in Western Colorado. While I am an advocate of finding ways to wean ourselves off foreign oil dependence, I do know we have to hold oil and gas companies to a higher standard when they come to our communities. Currently most laws and regulations favor the gas companies and it is incumbent upon individuals to join together in effort to raise our voice and be heard. Carbondale, CO is about to have major fight on our hands and we need to be ready when the natural gas leases in Thompson Creek are activated.  The current methods and tactics used to extract natural gas are not acceptable by any standard.  Technology exists for safer mineral extraction and gas companies need to comply as well as invest in future technologies.  Until we hold them to a higher standard, they will continue their unmitigated process.  There are success stories in which strong coalitions were formed, baseline standards for air and water quality were established and local and national politicians were informed. The film Split Estate is a fantastic documentary about the realities of this difficult situation.

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Gear Envy

There’s nothing quite like an overnight river trip for a bunch of dudes to flaunt their favorite gear. From fabricated oar frame rigs with custom wood decking, to counter-weighted carbon fiber oars, 64,000 BTU stoves, cast iron Dutch ovens, hand-crank drink mixers and arc welded fire pans – raft trips are a gear head’s dream.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to introduce my two-year old to the joys of a river trip. We floated a 25-mile flatwater section of the Colorado through Ruby-Horsethief Canyon with a big group of about 20 people. In typical fashion, there was a lot of gear envy on the trip: Ken had a sweet custom bimini rig to provide shade for his cataraft, Joe had a nice multiple room tent that accommodated his whole family (Pack’nPlay crib included), Jimi rented a huge 18-foot raft with the capacity to transport an un-Godly amount of food and beer.

But nothing amongst this group of gear fanatics precipitated even a fraction of the ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’ I got when I pulled out the Brunton BrewFire I had hidden away in a drybox until early on Sunday morning. I mean really, it doesn’t get much cooler (or hotter in this case) than a propane/butane powered automatic coffee-maker with a stainless steel carafe at a beautiful river-side campsite. In minutes, I had our whole group huddled around the shiny Brewfire in idol-worship, and that was before anyone even tasted the fresh brew.

I may not be the best boatman, or the most engaging conversationalist, but I’m pretty confident I’ll get invited along on the next river trip as long as I bring a BrewFire with me.

The BrewFire in all its shiny glory

The BrewFire in all its shiny glory

Princess Juniper and her dog Hank

Princess Juniper and her dog Hank

Juniper and her friend Sawyer. It's only a matter of time before they can row and I can sit and drink beer.

Juniper and her friend Sawyer. It’s only a matter of time before they can row and I can sit and drink beer.

The Jackson Kayak Dynamic Duo was a big hit on the trip

The Jackson Kayak Dynamic Duo was a big hit on the trip

The now discontinued RuffWear Mutt Hutt clearly fits into the category of 'completely excessive & uneccessary gear' especially since my dog won't go near it, but the kids loved it!

The now discontinued RuffWear Mutt Hutt clearly fits into the category of ‘completely excessive & uneccessary gear’ – especially since my dog won’t go near it, but the kids loved it!

If you have pets that require a little extra care, on https://www.laweekly.com/best-cbd-oil-for-dogs/ has products for pets with conditions like arthritis, Tasteful Space offers a fantastic solution to give our four-legged friends some much-needed respite in an all-natural manner. We treat our dog because he suffer general pain and this CBD oil relieves his pain.

Two Big Agnes Whiskey Park sleeping bags zipped together provided luxurious digs for mom, dad, daughter, dog and BaBa

Two Big Agnes Whiskey Park sleeping bags zipped together provided luxurious digs for mom, dad, daughter, dog and BahBah

August is the official start of ski season!

Yes, it is August. School has not even started and the Denver Broncos have played only one meaningless pre-season game. But with the first crisp morning already come and gone and some fall foliage spotted yesterday on a mountain bike ride – ski season is officially here.

Thomas Hodel ripping the BC near Davos

Thomas Hodel ripping the BC near Davos

Need more proof? Bears are wreaking havoc foraging for what promises to be a HUGE winter and all the snow mags are on the newsstand.

Houdini, the Aspen local bear 8/19

Houdini, the Aspen local bear 8/19

And best of all, for kicking your dreams into powder filled visions are films like this one from the POWDERWHORES, titles Flakes.

LZ the Local Legend

You would never know it talking to him because he’s ridiculously modest, but Len Zanni is kind of a big deal.

In addition to helping run the show at sister companies Big Agnes and Honey Stinger, Len is a bit of a local celebrity on his bike. This year Len has been crushing the competition at pretty much every Wednesday night local race. He currently sits in third place in the overall points series of the Mountain States Cup. He finished 17th at the National Mountain Bike XC Championships at Sol Vista last month and he won the Leadville Silver Rush 50 a couple weeks ago.

But this weekend featured what might have been one of Zanni’s biggest races yet. Len certainly had some homefield advantage at the Blast the Mass race in Snowmass this past Saturday, but he also faced some of the toughest mountain bike competition on American soil. It just so happens that part-time Aspen local and 7-time Tour de France winner, Lance Armstrong, decided he wanted to join the fray at the Snowmass race. Lance’s appearance definitely added some excitement and brouhaha to what is typically a fairly insular regional mountain bike race scene.

Lenny leading Lance and other pro men up the starting hill. It's not everyday you can race ahead of a 7-time TdF winner.

Lenny leading a 7-time TdF winner and the other pro men up the starting hill.

Despite the spectator donnybrook surrounding Lance, Len kept his eyes on the prize and raced his own race. Lance shot out to three minute lead over perennial Mountain States winner and full-time pro rider Jay Henry, with Len holding onto third place in a field stacked with strong regional pros. In the end Lance proved he can ride a bike off road as well as on, and won with a three-minute margin. Jay stayed in second and Len finished in third – his best Mountain States Cup finish all season.

Jay Henry, Lance and Len

Jay Henry, Lance and Len.

It’s not every day you get to share a podium with Lance. Not bad for a guy pushing 40 with two kids and a full-time job. Nice work Len, we’re proud of you.

Surfs Up.

Summer seems to have finally graced us with her presence here in Carbondale with some long-awaited warm temps. The local rivers are up and most are predicting peak flows sometime this week. That’s good news for the US Freestyle Kayaking Team Trials, which start in less than two weeks at the Glenwood Whitewater Park. As flows on the Colorado River climb north of 15k CFS, the wave keeps getting better and better and it should make for an awesome event on May 30-31.

We’re starting to see more and more out-of-state license plates in the Park’s lot as boaters from around the country are putting in lots of training hours on the wave (and showing up old, washed up boaters like me with their new school Phonics Monkeys and Donkey Flips…kids these days). Thankfully, I can watch the wave in real time here (scroll to bottom of page), just to make sure there aren’t too many young punks out there to make me look bad. The time lapse feature is super cool.

One other unexpected phenomenon on the Glenwood Wave…board surfers. It’s been awesome to watch the number of surfers on long boards, short boards and even SUP’s out on the wave…often they outnumber the kayakers.  Check out this sweet video of Ken Hoeve, aka Hobie, surfing the wave on his long board (Hobie can more than hold his own in a kayak and on a SUP too).

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